This can lead to low self esteem, incidents of self-harm, mental health problems or eating disorders.

"Sometimes when people are experiencing those things it is difficult to talk to friends and relatives," said Dilys.

"Here we won't judge anybody.

"We work through the issues to help them to find the best way of coping and to take control of their life again."

A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: "The council has given them a grant of #9,690 this year and has guaranteed funding subject to their matching it from other sources for the next two years.

"I understand they are hoping to expand the service and have secured grants from the Home Office."

Campaigners on Teesside recently wrote to Lottery-winning rapist Iorworth Hoare asking him to donate #1m to a new rape crisis centre in Middlesbrough as "a very practical way of showing that you have changed".

But they never heard anything back from Hoare, who bought his #7m winning ticket on Teesside.

Dilys said: "We sent the letter to the prison. We don't know whether he ever got it."

The Women's Support Network Rape Crisis Centre can be contacted on 01642 822331.

Counselling and support for adult male survivors of rape or sexual abuse is provided by the Jigsaw Project on 01642 296000.